Date: 2006-11-16
Interviewee: Agepai
Queji Jianzan
Participants: Wang
Zi-li; Xing Xiu-hua; Kong Yu-xia; Li Xiao-chun; Sang Yong-xuan;
Yangfan; Zhoutai; Zhangli.
When we reached the gate of the Pearl Monastery, we saw the brick
aisle straight to the main hall. On both sides of the aisle, there
is a garden full of peonies, cloves, Chinese redbud, and paeonia
lactiflora. At first, we didn't know the principles of the Pearl
Monastery, who were stopped by a monk. Thanks to our Tibetan teacher-Mr
Xing, the monk allowed us to take pictures and do interview after
learning our purpose. Then, we were introduced to the head of the
Pearl Temple- Agepai Queji Jianzan.
Student: Hello! We
are students from Hedong Town Middle School. This year, we participate
in 2007 Cyber尀??? Fair, which is a big international website-making
competition. We want to publish our Tibetan traditional culture
on our website. Would you like to introduce the Pearl Temple?
Agepai Queji Jianzan: yes,
I am quite happy to satisfy your need and also want to publish the
Pearl Temple to the outside world.
Student: do you mind
to tell us your age?
Agepai Queji Jianzan: I
am 83.
Student: you are
in good health. How long have you been in the Pearl Temple?
Agepai Queji Jianzan: nearly
forty years.
Student: would you
please tell us the history of the Pearl Temple?
Agepai Queji Jianzan: well.
The Pearl Monastery is called 'Juedang Lakang' in Tibetan, which
was founded in Southern Song Dynasty. According to religion record,
the monk Longzhu Jiacuo was invited to visit Liangzhou by the prince-kuoduan.
In return, he built the Pearl Monastery by selling a bag of pearls
given by the prince. On the foundation ceremony, five-color halos
appeared in the sky, in which numerous of gods' images emerged.
Afterwards, in Buddhism activities, especially on Mar 15 in lunar
calendar, many holy followers come to pilgrimage. However, in 1985,
the Pearl Temple was torn down. In 1987, with the support of local
people, I organized other monks to restore and expand the the Pearl
T尀???emple.
Student: The Pearl
Temple looks quite magnificent.
Agepai Queji Jianzan: I
lead you to visit the whole monastery and you will have a deep understanding
of Tibetan traditional culture. In our Temple, there are some special
rooms, which offer accommodations for holy followers for free. There
is a main hall, Guanyin hall and 32 wing-rooms. This is the main
hall. Although it is small, the construction material is valuable.
The backbone of the hall is made of colored glaze and tower is made
of cooper with golden cover. We used more than 1kg gold to repair
the tower in 1954.
Student: ah, it's
amazing.
Agepai Queji Jianzan: the
main hall is divided into two parts: the front and back. In the
front, you can see some traces on the ground, which are left by
holy follower after kowtowing. There are Buddhist scripture tubes
around the main hall. The followers always walk around the main
hall in clockwise direction after kowtowing. Most followers are
women and seniors, who bless happiness for their family members.
You can roll these Buddhist scripture tubes to bless safety.
At the back, it's where monks chant Buddhist scriptures. Look, there
is a Sakyamuni's statue. In front of the statue, there are more
than ten silver butter lamps. The largest one is 1.3m high, which
can contain more than 35kg butter oil; while the smallest one can
contain 5kg. The Buddhist Sculptures and four Heavenly Guardians
a尀???re modeled after Zuglakang Monastery in Lahsa.
Student: Thanks to
your introduction. Would you like to take picture with us?
Agepai Queji Jianzan:
OK. I hope you can work hard and publish our Tibetan tradition to
more people.
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